Quote: Michael Monkhouse @ 4th August 2021, 9:51 AM
AGAIN
Writing it in caps doesn't make it any more true, Monkhouse
Anyway got to work fast this round, because I'm going away tomorrow (some irony in the fact this reason is probably truer to the spirit of the theme than what I came up with).
...
MECHANIC: Right, we've found the problem, Mr Soames, it was this tiny little gasket that had come loose.
SOAMES: Oh, right.
MECHANIC: Yes, we put in another one, it cost 49p.
SOAMES: Excellent.
MECHANIC: Yes, but unfortunately for you it found its way into the grafham pipe by a stroke of rotten luck and, the upshot is, we had to replace the carburettor.
SOAMES: Ah. So, what's the damage?
MECHANIC: £498
SOAMES: [Sigh] I see. Well, you may as well sell me a lottery ticket for tonight to make it up to the round 500. I could do with a change of fortune.
MECHANIC: Really?
SOAMES: Gosh, yes. This automotive malfunction is the tip of the iceberg today. I got up this morning to find that I had been burgled in my sleep, and that the cat had died. As soon as I'd finished making my police report, and burying the tabby, I got a call to say that my mother had been hit by a tractor, and was in hospital. It turned out that was a mistake, and my mother was fine, but in the course of rushing to A&E I was given a speeding ticket, and when I got home I found that in my haste I'd left the door unlocked, and someone had stolen all the things the first robber left behind. And dug up the cat, oddly. After all this malarkey I was late for a sorely needed job interview. Then I trod in dog poo. I think I can comfortably say that it's not my day.
MECHANIC: Well of course not, don't be stupid.
SOAMES: Pardon me?
MECHANIC: Oh, sorry, no offence, Mr Soames, I can assure you that I have the utmost sympathy for your ill fortune, but why would it be your day? Bit selfish, isn't it? Your day, oh, la di da.
SOAMES: Well it's been trying.
MEHCANIC: A sad tale, indeed, but it's hardly likely to be your day, is it? The whole world turning round you for 24 hours? Ever hear of hubris, Mr Soames? Ever hear of Icarus?
SOAMES: Is that the new name for the Post Office?
MECHANIC: I mean, look at it like this: the average Briton lives for 74 years, which is just over 27,000 days. Now, bearing in mind there are 7.108 billion people in the world, that means you only have about a 1 in 263,000 chance of even having a day of your own for the entirety of your existence, assuming for second that we agree having a day were possible.
SOAMES: I just meant I'd had an off-day.
MECHANIC: All days are off-days. There are effectively no on-days, I just proved that, mathematically. What you meant is that you have some pie-eyed concept that individual days are allotted to random humans for their own gratification. What do you reckon, that the gods come down and say, "Bless you, little man, I bestow this day upon thee, go forth and have a bleeding knees up!"? Like I say, selfish.
SOAMES: That's err...an interesting point. Anyway, I'll be on my way.
MECHANIC: As you wish.
SFX: Engine starts. 3 seconds later there is a bang and crash
MECHANIC: Are you alright, Mr Soames?
SOAMES: [Shaken] I...I think so.
MECHANIC: A blow out right there, how unlucky. Still, you were fortunate that it happened here at my garage - I can fix that wheel and windscreen for you in a jiff - £170.
SOAMES: [Sighing] I suppose.
MECHANIC: Excellent. Pop in and see Janet and I'll get onto it.
SOAMES: [Fading] OK.
VOICE: [Booming, reverby, epic] Samuel! How are you enjoying your day?
MECHANIC: It's. Bloody. Brilliant!
VOICE: Everything to your satisfaction?
MECHANIC: I'll say! Having a day kicks arse, Lord.
VOICE: Wonderful. Don't tell the other 263,000 people I gave you one, mind. Oops, better go, Janet and Mr Soames are coming back.
JANET: Sorry, boss, just a little problem. Mr Soames doesn't have enough in his account for this job, he only has £84 remaining.
MECHANIC: Oh, how unfortunate is that? Tell you what, Mr Soames, just give us those 84 squidlies, and to cover the difference I'll take that lottery ticket of yours; do you know, I'm felling lucky...